Today, Burberry announces the launch of ReBurberry Fabric, a pilot programme in partnership with the British Fashion Council (BFC) and with the support of Charlie Porter and Sarah Mower. Burberry will donate leftover fabrics to fashion students most in need across the country as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting creative communities.
The BFC, through its Institute of Positive Fashion and Colleges Council, will oversee the logistics of the fabric donations, with shipments going to students throughout the UK. Together, Burberry and the BFC are creating a process whereby logistics for donations will be centralised, facilitating access to materials.
Following the pilot, the initiative aims to be rolled out as an industry-wide programme, providing a blueprint for other brands and colleges to work together to provide practical support to future talent.
‘We are delighted to partner with the British Fashion Council to launch ReBurberry Fabric, as we continue to ensure we are meaningfully supporting the next generation of diverse voices across the country. Providing resources for these communities in a sustainable way will enable them to bring their creativity to life, and continue through their programmes with the tools they need. We look forward to seeing how donations can positively impact these academic institutions and students, and hope this is the beginning of a wider industry initiative to support these communities, now and in the future.’
Pam Batty, VP of Corporate Responsibility at Burberry
‘One of the BFC‘s priorities is to encourage the industry to move towards a circular fashion economy while supporting excellence in fashion design. We are delighted to work with Burberry, helping ensure students across the country have access to the best quality fabrics. Creative talent is at the heart of the industry and we are proud of our world leading colleges – being able to provide these students with such opportunities is a privilege.’
Caroline Rush, CEO at the British Fashion Council
‘I am thrilled that Burberry are launching this pilot scheme to deliver fabrics to underprivileged students across the country. The aim is to find a new, efficient model that will make it easy for brands to donate fabric, both helping students in need pushing for greater sustainability. I hope this is the beginning of a new conversation about how brands can take more responsibility for supporting future generations of designers.’
Charlie Porter, writer